Atletico's title hopes ended by relegated Levante

An understrength Atletico Madrid surrendered their spot in the title race after a 2-1 defeat with a battling, but already-relegated, Levante at the Ciutat de Valencia on Sunday.

Substitute Giuseppe Rossi's late counter-attacking goal proved a sucker punch, after a lacklustre display from the visitors.

With every game kicking off simultaneously, while both league leaders Barcelona and city-rivals Real Madrid won their respective home games, the pressure was on, but six straight wins seemed to make Atleti complacent.

Tension was eased very early on, too, when Fernando Torres linked up with Koke after sprinting free of Granotas defender David Navarro, giving the visitors the lead with a typically deft finish just two minutes in, his tenth league strike of the season.

El Nino, confident after a good run of form, was at the heart of everything early on, putting in a real shift up front and linking up well with Angel Correa, stand-in for benched top scorer Antoine Griezmann.

Levante's decision not to start top scorer Acosta Deyverson and proven scorer Rossi looked like costing them, with good possession not converting into penetration, but it all changed on the half hour mark, against the run of play.

Mauricio Cuero's run and cross from the right was met by a bullet header by Victor Casadesus, whose third goal of the campaign stunned the title chasers, as captain Diego Godin looked on as a helpless substitute.

Despite the frustrating setback, the flow of the game didn't change, with Atleti continuing to set the pace, but a lack of firepower was evident; Antoine Griezmann and Yannick Carrasco were called on, replacing Correa and Augusto Fernandez at the break.

Godin's replacement, Stefan Savic, almost regained the lead on 54 minutes, heading just wide from a Jose Gimenez knock down.

The frustration continued to grow for Diego Simeone, who was cast away in the stands, serving the second of a three game touchline ban.

Atleti continued to look bereft of ideas, but sprung into life on 74 minutes, when the two substitutes combined; Griezmann's fierce shot forcing Diego Marino into a great save.

Levante began to pick holes on the break, though, and it cost them.

Rossi's late finish after a run in behind from Jose Luis Morales leaves them three points adrift in third place, ending their title hopes due to an inferior head-to-head record with the Blaugrana.